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The Armadillo Grill is located on the Murphy Highway on the west side of the road just north of the 515/129 intersection. Photo by Ashton Jones

When I first heard that there was a new Restaurant opening called “The Armadillo Grill,” I will admit that I was having doubts. I suppose the reasoning behind that is because I have been hoping that since Blairsville is now able to serve alcohol, that we would get some popular food chains’ restaurants, but instead we get another locally owned place with a name that makes you suspicious of what they serve. However, I stand corrected. Eating at “The Armadillo Grill” was actually a very satisfying dining experience.

When I first pulled up to the restaurant, I was not extremely impressed due to the lack of parking options and landscaping; although I am willing to forgive that, acknowledging that they are brand new and are no doubt still making important decisions. It should be noted that the place was packed, cars parked in the adjacent field, and many groups of people waiting to be seated.

Upon entering the establishment I thought it had an altogether pleasant atmosphere. Multiple pieces of local art adorned the walls, which are painted a dark red contrasted with natural wood trim, and dim lights hover over the well-spaced tables and booths that are all centered around a rustic fireplace.

About 25 minutes passed before I was seated, and I thought the service was great. Our waitress was polite and well-spoken and ensured that our glasses remained full and our table clear of dirty dishes. The food came out surprisingly fast considering how they busy they were at the time.

The menu consisted of a large variety of items including seafood, pastas, burgers, steaks and an assortment of selections with a southern flare, and some that were refreshingly unique.

I indulged in the “Pecos chicken Parm” which consisted of a large flour tortilla shell full of penne pasta with Alfredo sauce topped with three large portions of fried chicken and provolone cheese, served with an assortment of other spices that made for a delicious and filling meal at a decent price of $11.99.

Altogether, I had a very enjoyable experience and left full and content. The “Armadillo Grill” appears to have a bright future ahead of itself, and based on my personal dining experience I give it an A and look forward to going again soon.

I used to encourage everyone I knew to make art. I don’t do that so much anymore.” These are the closing words of the famous, maybe infamous, Banksy, in his new documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop. For those of you who do not know what is going on out in the art world (yes, one exists), Banksy is foremost a street artist from England. Now, he may or may not also be a genius film-maker.

Your first impression is you think this film is going to be about Banksy. Instead you are introduced to Thierry Guetta, who is not an artist, and then proceed to learn his life story and how he is obsessed with filming everything that moves. Guetta becomes Banksy’s new shadow, filming him do everything art related. Banksy ends up having an extremely successful show, and he makes a lot of money. He figures now might be a good time for Guetta to make use of the hours of footage he has and make a documentary. Guetta obliges and ends up making the worst documentary ever, resulting in Banksy “encouraging” Guetta to go home and start working on some of his own street art.

Guetta takes Banksy’s request very seriously and starts hiring people to make the art for him. This leads to tons and tons of art that suspiciously looks like the art he has been filming for years. Guetta starts working on an extremely large art show that ends up having a mind of its own, which leads Guetta to nickname himself “Mr. Brainwash.”

Now there are two options as to what the purpose of this documentary might possibly be. The first option is to view this film literally. It’s about a guy who gets a lucky break. The second option is that Banksy is awesome. I am more inclined to believe the second option. I think, and so do many others, that this entire documentary was a hoax, a piece of art in and of itself. So if you believe that art reflects the artist, then my first impression of this documentary was correct. It is all about Banksy and the message he is trying to drill into our skulls.

The best part of this documentary is that it is so ambiguous, and I think that ambiguity is what truly makes it a piece of art. It is open to interpretation. If anything, it at least opened up many conversations about art on a large scale, which I believe, is always a plus. So with that in mind, watch this movie and try not to think too much. Also, it’s important to remember that with all art, you may not like it, but you can still appreciate it.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, there is bound to be love in the air at Young Harris College. So, what better way to celebrate the holiday than to watch a fun romance with your significant other? You could watch one of the many romance films here on campus. But be warned, if you watch this one in particular, A Lot Like Love, you may be putting your relationship in jeopardy and will probably walk away a lot more sad than happy.

A Lot Like Love released in 2005, is a romantic comedy surrounding the relationship of Oliver, played by Ashton Kutcher and Emily, played by Amanda Peet. It takes place over several years as they progress from exclusively sexual friends, to genuine friendship and then ultimately to a relationship.

By saying this, I’m not giving anything away, since this movie follows the same predictable story frame as most other movies of the genre: boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl back.

Along with following the generic formula, this film reminded me entirely too much of When Harry Met Sally– except terribly done. What that film possesses in humor, character development and attraction, this movie lacked completely. It was not funny at all, and I never longed to see the two of them to get together.

For example, there’s the hilarious and famous deli scene in When Harry Met Sally where Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm, but in A Lot Like Love, there is a scene where Peet pretends to choke in a restaurant. The latter doesn’t even begin to be funny and doesn’t compare to the other.

Complementing that negative is the acting. Peet has a few scenes where she cries and looks saddened, but Kutcher on the other hand, let’s just say you get more emotion out of his deaf brother in the movie that communicates through sign language. Kutcher and Peet lack the chemistry required to create a lasting impression.

In the end, if you want to have a romantic night for Valentine’s Day, do not watch this film. Especially, if you want to remain in your relationship, avoid this movie. If you want to watch a romantic comedy, I recommend When Harry Met Sally. I give it a F.

Herb Williams's artwork, featured in the Campus Gate Art gallery, uses children's crayons to contrast the innocence of childhood with more serious topics such as civil rights and environmental issues. Photo by Ashton Jones

Sculptures— we’ve all seen them. Some are in bronze, granite and clay. Others are in ice or on occasion wax. Herb Williams creates many sculptures. They just happen to be made out of crayons.

Herb Williams is an artist that is showcasing certain pieces of his collection of sculptures at Young Harris College. His artwork is something that everyone can identify with. Crayons are usually a part of everyone’s past, thus making his artwork quite relational.

The off-the-wall, non-cliché, pieces provide a nostalgic presence within in the gallery. The complexity of the artwork is astounding. Upon entering, there are multiple points of interest in which to begin gazing.

Children playing, a majestic predator arranged on a limb, a variety of fish swimming along the wall and adolescent games jump off of the wall, all reminding us of our past experiences. While all of the pieces were absolutely mind-boggling, I have a few favorites.

Photo by Ashton Jones

“The Wheel of Fortune” is a game-show that has been aired on daytime television for years. However, this wheel of fortune is nothing even remotely encouraging. It is not spun on the hope of winning money, a new car or an all-expense-paid vacation to a tropical island.

Instead, “suicidal” and “delusional” are a few words that are on the wheel. This wheel is not necessarily a wheel of fortune but more on the aspect of revealing what your fortune in life may be.

Fish floating along the walls of the exhibit attract much attention. The varieties of fish call attention to the viewer. A piece called “Oil Slick” is a piece that most everyone can understand due to the major oil crisis that occurred in the summer months of 2010.

The fish had a dark and dismal look and definitely made me think about the severity of the oil spill. I personally can attest to the traumatic effects of the oil spill. I took a Caribbean cruise last June and saw oil spots in the Gulf of Mexico.

The art exhibit was simple because it was easy to relate to. If I could merit a grade, it would be an A. This, to me, is a once-in- a-lifetime experience that I believe everyone should go and see.

This artwork will be on showcase until the 25th of February. Happy Coloring.

If you haven’t seen the black hole laser show that is currently being shown Friday nights in the O. Wayne Rollins planetarium, you should definitely take one of the remaining opportunities to see it. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity is free to students with a YHC ID. The show lasts just under an hour, making it the perfect break from all that studying that YHC students do on Friday nights.

The show, which was created by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, is educational without being boring. The shows runs just under half an hour, and you learn about black holes without feeling like you’re being bored with useless information.

The graphics are also really amazing. They were created with high tech computers from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the show uses Einstein’s equations to show exactly what would happen if we were to approach a black hole. Anyone who appreciates great graphics would love this show.

The show is narrated by Liam Neeson. The voice of Neeson is great in the show, because he has a wonderful voice for narration. His voice blends nicely into the background sound effects, without being too obnoxious or too quiet.

My favorite part of the show was when the program gave audience members an idea of how black holes are formed. The graphics were amazing, and the visuals explained black holes in such an interesting way that I was able to understand a concept that I had never been able to understand before. Plus, the way the show puts great detail into exactly how the black holes are formed in outer space was really helpful.

Overall, I would give this show an A. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity was completely wonderful all around, and the planetarium crew did a great job presenting it. It’s definitely worth seeing.

We Own the Night is a crime drama that came out in 2007. The film revolves around a successful nightclub owner, Bobby Green played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his family. Bobby Green’s family has traditionally been police officers including his veteran officer father played by Robert Duvall and his brother, played by Mark Wahlberg.

Bobby turns a blind eye to drug trafficking in his club and as the film progresses and the police begin to move in, Bobby is faced with an impossibly difficult decision. He must either look out for his club and continue to aid the drug lords, or he must turn in informantion and help his family bring them down.

The plot of the film sounds like a rather generic one, but it is very interesting. The movie is entertaining and thrilling throughout, keeping the viewer attentive to see what choices will be made. There are several tense, pulse-pounding scenes that definitely deliver. Writer and director James Gray does an excellent job creating shots and scenes that convey the drama of a situation.

Also, it is not only the plot that helps power the movie, but the acting. Joaquin Phoenix in particular does a magnificent playing the compelling role of a truly torn character. As the movie progresses, you can get a true sense of how he feels. Eva Mendes, who plays Phoenix’s girlfriend, also does a good job portraying a woman terrified of what may happen. Wahlberg does what he can, but his role is not nearly up to par with the one he had in The Departed.

However, with the great roles and intense scenes, the movie may not necessarily stand out amongst similar movies. We Own The Night is not a movie that is widely known. Also, it is a rather generic type story. Gray does incorporate his own style and flair, but in the end, it is a predictable drama where you already know the general outline. All in all, We Own the Night is definitely worth watching, but do not expect to be blown away. I give it a B.

Arriving 10 minutes early to the opening of the Campus Gate Art Gallery’s new exhibition “Integrate,” I was nervous about being vis-à-vis with the artists and their work. Though greeted initially, I was left to meander at my own pace, trying to take in each piece to grasp what each artist was trying to convey.

I started with Darius Hill’s collection of mixed media pieces, which focused on his racial identification as an African American male. There were digital pictures of young men sporting the once fashionable “afro,” along with print images of hair picks, among other painted figures and shapes. As I continued around his portion of the exhibit, I kept noticing the hair picks and how he, in the first set of paintings, had the traditional rigid lines of an ordinary hair pick; but as he added new pieces to the collection, the hair picks now had multiple colors and resembled humanistic figures.

Once the majority of the visitors had arrived, Hill gave the opening speech and told of how his inspiration evolved into the individual pieces. However, I felt he was far too ambiguous with his inept ramblings, which never truly answered the question of what his art meant to him as an artist and his reason for such creations.

I did enjoy his artwork, especially when titles such as “The Jim Crow” series force those who are viewing the work to try and empathize what the artist was feeling while creating the art. I was merely disappointed in his anticlimactic opening. I was expecting nothing less of exuberance and passion for what he was expressing; but alas, he was reserved and soft-spoken.

On the other hand, his wife, Bethanne Hill, seemed to enrapture listeners with her body language and overall passion while speaking of her half of the exhibit.

I enjoyed her portion of the exhibit just as well; especially how she incorporated modern painting technique with an Aboriginal influence in the sense of coloration and dramatic outlines of the figures. Seeing the decorative and tribal designs of the CDs made me want to play the folk music recorded on them, in order to get the full experience of what had inspired her to make such interesting works of art.

Overall the “Integrate” exhibition by Darius and Bethanne Hill is truly remarkable, especially with all of the rural and social themes scattered throughout. The impending chill of November makes this a great stop for contemplation and inspiration.